Perry, Bailey pair up to trip up Rivercrest

COVE -- J. P. Perry scored 26 points and Justin Bailey had 23 points and 13 rebounds to lead Mayflower to an 82-67 victory over Rivercrest in the quarterfinals of the Class 3A boys basketball state tournament Saturday night at Cossatot River High School.

Mayflower (20-10) moves on to play the Prescott or Two Rivers at 2 p.m. Monday for a chance to play for a state championship.

Hayden Long chipped in 21 points and Drew Duncan 10 for the Eagles, who looked like the fresher of the two teams despite playing Friday.

"We did just enough to win, but we'll take it," Mayflower Coach Brent Stallings said. "We lost in the quarters last year, and the seniors realize this is their last chance. Right now they're playing like it because they're all playing as a team."

Marquez Chew finished with a team-high 20 points and seven assists but exerted a tremendous amount of energy in trying to keep the Colts in the game. The senior, who had 30 points and 13 assists in an 82-76 overtime victory over McGehee in the first round, managed only two points in the second half.

Cecil Langston scored 12 of his 14 points in the second half for Rivercrest (25-8).

Mayflower built a 15-point lead in the first quarter, with Long shouldering much of the load offensive. He scored 13 of his team's 28 points in the period, including 3 three-pointers. His 22-footer at the 2:33 mark gave the Eagles a 23-8 lead.

Rivercrest chipped away at its deficit in the second quarter and climbed to within 38-32 on Chew's putback with 1:44 left in the period. But Mayflower got back-to-back buckets from Bailey and two free throws from Drew Duncan while forcing Rivercrest into turnovers on four of its final six possessions to lead 44-34 at halftime.

The teams continued to play at a fast pace in the second half and traded baskets for virtually the entire third quarter. Mayflower held a 10-point lead well into the fourth before Langston's floater cut the Eagles' lead to 63-55 with 6:41 to play.

But Rivercrest could never get the defensive stops it needed or the necessary run on offense to creep any closer.

Sports on 03/08/2015

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